Chapter 7: The plan
Satine, Bo-Katan, Obi-Wan, and several of Bos senior warriors stood in the ship's cargo hold, a holo table projecting an image of Mandalore in front of them. The blue hue of the projector illuminated the dark room. Satine stood in the center, one arm crossed across her chest while the other rested on her chin, a thoughtful look on her face. The Jedi master stood to her right, dressed in typical robes of his order with his hands positioned in front of him, hidden in the brown sleeves of the robe. Bo-Katan stood to her sister's left going over a datapad before handing it over to Satine who took it in her hand and turned her attention to it, calculating eyes carefully going over every word.
"What clans are with us?" Satine asked.
"Clans Beyora, Bralor, Wren, Rook, Shale, Lok, few members from clans like Tenau and Farr and more individual fighters. Loyal clans but not enough to retake a planet. Maul not only has a large part of the Death Watch but he also was the Shadow collective on his side. We are going to need an army and a fleet to match him," Bo said. Satine thought about it, her sister was right, the clans they had on their side were not enough, they might be able to cause some chaos to Maul but not fight a war. She looked at Obi-Wan with expecting eyes, still holding up a shred of hope that he might have a solution. He must have sensed her thought, his expression indicated as much.
"The council and the senate are still against aiding Mandalore. The senator's reasoning is that Mandalore is an independent system and should solve its own issues while the Jedi council can't do anything without proof. If they had a piece of hard evidence that Maul was there an attack would be offered but as it stands their hands are tied. The best they could do is offer information we have so far."
"As expected from Jedi," one of the Mandalorians, Kir said with disdain. Obi-Wan looked at the warrior.
"The Jedi Order and the GAR arent only righting a war against Maul but also against the Confederacy, Dooku and the Sith, I agree that the council should do more but I also understand why they are hesitant, they want to capture Maul and deal with the Mandalore crisis in one move, simply attacking Mandalore to free it is a noble cause but if Maul gets away, that will only give him a chance to come back, and trust me when I say he won't be as merciful to your people as he was the first time around. There is nothing that I wish more than to go after Maul, his hate for me is the reason for all of this but I can't disobey the council's orders."
There was a moment of silence in the room as the occupants all looked at each other with questioning gazes. "So what's the plan?" another Mandalorian, Tomo asked."Are we to stay here and do nothing or are we going to find a way to beat the horn-headed freak?"
It was Satine who spoke next. "We are going to need the support of more clans if we are to have a chance at retaking Mandalore. The most powerful clans have mostly stayed out of the altercations between me and the Death Watch, none of them taking sides, with only clans like Saxon, Awaud, Varad staying with the Death Watch."
"Those are old and powerful clans and their support is what caused many of the smaller clans and individuals to join Maul's side, swelling his numbers," Bo said. "Clans like Ordo and Jednri have so far kept to themselves."
"My Mandalorian history might be spotty but last time I checked didn't clans Ordo and Jendri hate each other," Obi-Wan said. He remembered that fact from his time during the Mandalorian civil war, clan Ordo sided with the True Mandalorians while Jendri sided with the Death Watch simply out of spite and hate. Both clans had been calm since the war ended but who knows what could happen considering recent events.
"That is true," Bo said with a shrug. "There's a reason the saying about Ordos, Jendirs and a barrel exists."
"Clan Ordo has always been one of the most honorable and loyal clans, they would make a good place to start recruitment," Satine said.
"Yeah but don't forget that you trough several of them in prison after the Piece statue incident," one of the Mandalorians pointed out. Satine mentally chastised herself for forgetting. That was true, a few younger members of clan Ordo decided to disrupt the unraveling of the Piece statue in the center of the capital which resulted in several dead, injured at the rest thrown into prison. Satine realized that gathering support might be harder than she had thought and an uncertain expression crossed her features. Obi-Wan saw this and a thought came to his mind.
"I might have a suggestion from where you should start," the Jedi said.
"Go on," Bo said interested.
"Kal Skirata is the man in charge of training the clones on Kamino. He is the head of his clan and his support might be enough to show the other clans that you are worthy of following."
Satines worried look was replaced by a thoughtful one. "Clan Skirata is old, dating all the way back to the original Mandalorian wars and Kal is well respected among the Mandalorians even if he sided with the republic at the start of this war. His reputation and experience would go a long way in aiding our cause."
"That's actually a good suggestion," Bo said. "The Skirata clan is of decent size and has a good number of warriors sworn to it."
"There is also a group of Mandalorians mercenaries who served as pilot instructors on Kamino. From what I managed to gather they are currently taking part in active fighting on the Outer Rim border. Skull squadron I believe they call themselves." Obi-Wan said.
"So two good leads then," Satine said. "I think it would be better to go talk with Skirata first and move on from there."
"I agree," Bo said. Everyone in the room exchanged looks.
"What about armaments, if we are to fight a war we are going to need more than what each Mandalorian has on them, we might be armed to the teeth individually but we are going to need high caliber weaponry for assault on Mandalore," Kir said.
"Not to mention ships," another Mandalorian, by the name of Tora said.
"Weapons we can procure by purchasing them from arms manufacturers like BlasTech Industries or on the black market while fighter craft should not be much of an issue considering that every plan has them, large capital ships are another story. We are going to need warships to breach through Mandalores orbital defenses," Bo explained. "Clan Kryze has a substantial sum stored in the banking clan and other clans have their own accounts."
"We will get to all of that with time, first we need to assemble an army then we will move towards acquiring more weapons and ships," Satine said with authority.
"Well it seems we have a plan after all," Kir said pleased, crossing his arms.
"Granted, it's not much but it's a start," Satine said. "We should get ready for departure," Bo and other Mandalorians nodded and went to do as told. "Obi, I know it's much to ask, but I'm going to need the security codes for Kamino, I wouldn't want me and my people to be blown to pieces just because the forces stationed on the planet saw a Mandalorian fighter and immediately assumed its hostile."
Kenobi gave her a toothy smile. "I think I can do one better than that. Master Shaak Ti is being to Kamino to judge the new batch of clones and I think she could use the company."
"Shaak Ti?"
"She is a calm and level-headed Jedi, I will talk to her and explain that you wish to talk with Skirata. She has been on Kamino before and has been the one overseeing the training of the clones for a while so she should know Skirata."
"It is interesting how the clone army was modeled after a Mandalorian, Jengo Fett if I'm not mistaken?"
"You are right, the genetic template for the clones is Jengo Fett."
"Clan Fett is an old clan, it is also large. During the war it split into three parts, one supporting the New Mandalorians, another the True Mandalorians and the last the Death Watch. The clones were modeled after Mandalorians, trained by them, their armor is based on Mandalorian armor and I have seen Mandalorian markings painted on their armor. The jai'galaar'la sur'haii'se that Captain Rex sports on his helmet are a rare thing and only given to hardened warriors as a sign of honor."
"The Mandalorian drill instructors passed down some of their traditions to the clones," Kenobi said. "Some even speak Mando."
Satine chuckled and Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at her. She noticed his confusion and proceeded to elaborate. "The trainers didn't just pass down a few traditions, they passed down much of them. From what I had heard about how the clones behave towards each other, how they fight, how they act, it's all too Mandalorian. And the funny thing is that it is Jedi who lead them, an army of Mandalorians led into battle by Jedi and a pacifist taking over as commander and going into war, strange times we live in," Satine chuckled again.
"They might be strange but they can always be stranger," Obi-Wan said with mirth.
"Stranger how?" Satine asked intrigued.
"Well for starters you could still be stuck posing as a small village girl on Daalang," Obi-Wan said with a chicky smile.
"And you could still be stuck posing as a small village boy," Satine replied back, the same smile adorning her lips. She moved closer and kissed him. After they broke the kiss she put her head to rest on his shoulder. "Things would have been so much simpler if we just stayed there," she said with a hint of melancholy in her voice.
"They would have been," Obi-Wan agreed, his hands wrapped around her.
"But the bounty hunters had to ruin it," Satine said.
"Not to mention what Qui Gons opinion on the matter would have been," Obi-Wan said. "I doubt he would be happy to find out that his apprentice ran off with a leader of a political faction."
Satines lips formed into a half-smile. "He wouldn't have been but we would," Satine sighed. "What is to happen with you now?"
"I'm being sent back to the Outer Rim with Anakin and our battalions, Grievous has been starting trouble again. I would love nothing more than to be with you..." Obi-Wan said, his voice laced with regret.
"You can't hold my hand forever Obi, you can't always be there to protect me, I have to do so myself. We both have our obligation and roles we must fulfill. But promise me that you will come back to me, that we will see each other again soon."
Two pairs of blue eyes stared directly at each other, worry and love shining in them. "Only if you do the same."
"I do," both said at the same time. A moment of silence passed as the two took it to enjoy each other's embrace, there was no telling when they would see each other again. Satine begrudgingly broke the embrace first.
"I think you should go inform master Ti that she will be having company on her trip to Kamino," she said. "And I should inform my men as well."
"You are right," Obi-Wan said and proceeded to walk to the door. He stopped at the entrance and looked back at her. "Stay safe love and may the force be with you."
"May the force be with you as well and return safely to me," Satine said, trying to mask her fear for his life and disappointment at seeing him leave but failing.
"Always," Kenobi said with a toothy grin and left leave Satine alone in the room.
The ship flu its way through hyperspace, the blue color of the faster than light travel dimension surrounding the vessel which was transporting a group of Mandalorians and a Jedi master to the watery planet of the galaxy's best cloners. The group of Mandos was composed of Satine, Bo-Katan, Tora and three other Mandalorian commandos. They were all doing their best to pass the time with Satine sitting alone while going over a datapad. A shadow passed over her and she lifted her head to see who it was.
"My apologies for interrupting you duchess," master Ti said, her voice calm and serene. Satine had met the Jedi master before their departure from Coruscant and found the Togruta woman much like Obi-Wan had described her, polite and serene as most Jedi tend to try to present themselves.
"No apologies are needed master Ti. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I just came to inform you that we will be reaching Kamino soon."
"Thank you, master Ti, I appreciate it."
"If I may say so I was slightly surprised when master Kenobi asked me if you could accompany me to Kamino and I was even more surprised when I saw you carrying arms and armor duchess, I believed you are a pacifist."
Satine sighed and placed the datapad to the side. "I was once, but recent events on my home planet had made me change my outlook on war. In this instance, it is necessary if I'm to free my people."
"Master Kenobi has informed the council about Maul and his occupation of your world duchess, I'm sorry to say that the council is prevented from acting due to political restrictions and as there is no evidence that Maul is on Mandalore the Jedi order cant send a force there."
"I also know that some among the council see it was Mandalores internal problem to deal with Maul," Satine said with a hint of anger. She knew everything that was said about the situation her world and people had found themselves in, Obi-Wan not being able to hold anything back from her.
Shaak Ti looked at the duchess with interest. "That may be true but Mandalore is outside of Republics' swear of influence, it is neutral. Not to mention that there has been no information on Maul in a while."
"Just because you haven't heard from him doesn't mean he is not there. Maul is a sith lord, he is powerful, cunning, and has vast amounts of resources to pull from. He is a danger to my people and I intend to push him out of Mandalore and with some luck, I might even deliver him to the Jedi Order," Satine said, her eyes burning with determination.
"Your courage is admirable, duchess. But I as well as others in my order are quietening your decision to fight. You were the foremost leader of pacifism in the galaxy and stoneheartedly were against entering this war or conflict in generalč and yet now are prepared to wage war and are planning to gain support from other Mandalorians seeing as you are heading to meet with the ones on Kamino. You might see how this might be concerning for the council."
Satine stood up and looked at the Jedi master dead in the eyes. "Our factions don't have a good history, we have spent all of it trying to kill each other but times are changing Master Jedi. I understand your fear of Mandalorians and the possibility of them uniting but I have no other choice, I have realized that no one is going to help me or my people in your plight and that like always we must do it ourselves. You may criticize me for abandoning my previous ideals if you wish but know that I won't back down from doing my duty to my people, they chose me as their leader and I intend to honor them."
"I meant no offense duchess, I only wish to inquire on your motivations. The sudden shift in your demeanor and actions has caught my interest. I understand somewhat what you must be going through."
Satine felt anger rising inside her. How was master Ti supposed to understand how she felt, how is it to lose your home, to fail your people, to lose family? Her anger at the Jedi's decision not to intervene had been so far pushed down deep inside her, Maul is a Sith, he is supposed to be their responsibility, and yet from what information she had managed to find, since the war had started the Zabrack Sith lord and his brother had wreaked havoc on multiple worlds and even killed a good number of Jedi in process and yet the Jedi instead of hunting them like they should have let them slip away time and time again. She knew that she should calm down but the stress of everything she was going through had made her more emotional.
"No, you don't understand and don't pretend to understand," Satine said while glaring at the Jedi. The duchess's sudden change in demeanor surprised the Jedi master. Satine took a moment to compose herself and continued to speak with the same authoritative tone as before. "You don't know how it is to lose your homeworld. You might be from Shili but you didn't spend your life there, you didn't grow up with friends and family who are dead now. I respect the Jedi but do not give me false courtesies, I have had enough of those. You can sympathize but do not pretend to understand what I'm going through."
The Jedi master could feel the anger radiating from the duchess. The Jedi are taught that anger leads to the dark side, that might be true for not force sensitive beings but it can surely alter their decisions. When she first saw the former ruler of Mandalore in full Mandalorian armor and armed with more armed Mandalorians he had been surprised, so she had decided to assess the duchess. What she found concerned her, the duchess seemed to be determined to go to war and that would mean reigniting the Mandalorian civil war that ended decades before. The sudden shift in the blond woman's demeanor should be brought to the council's attention. Shaak Ti did sympathize with the former ruler, what happened to her and her world is horrible, being ruler over by a sith but Duchess Satine Kryze taking up arms is certainly an unexpected development. Kenobi asked for the duchess to accompany her so he must have known about this. She will notify the council about this and they would need to keep an eye on the Mandalorians.
"Exiting hyperspace, will be entering the planet's atmosphere shorty," the voice of the clone pilot came over Shaak Tis comlink.
"I apologize for any inconvenience I might have caused you, duchess. I wish you luck in your endeavor," the Jedi master said and left towards the front of the ship.